Harness mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l W. J. BuDzYNA Er AL HARNESS MECHANISM March 30, 1954 Filed June 9, 1951 March 30, 1954 w. J. BUDZYNA E-r A1. 2,673,575

HARNESS MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum N N l INVEN TOR. WALTER J. BUDZ YNA BY AMER/co Gow/Em A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 30, 1954 HARNESS. MEGHANISM. Walter J. Budzyna, East Douglas, and America Gouveia, Milford; Mass.,

Corporation, Hopedale,

Maine Massara corporat'iomof 12 Claims; l

Thisv invention, pertains to. improvements in harness topV motions, and more especially,l to spring'top harness type springs such moving the harness tion.

It is a general'object ofthe invention to providea springtop' harness mechanism which shall be' eflicientlonglived and which shall be completelyV adjustable. throughout' a relatively Wide range and furthermorerabsolutely safe. duringits operation and' when being serviced or adjusted bythe loom fixer.

It: is aV more' speci'c object ofthe invention to devise` a spring top harness mechanism in which a separate springY unit employing. a clock type spring shall be provided for each harness frame andsaid units combined into a simple assembly which is self-contained, but which may, however, be serviced, very easily.

It' is afurtherobject ofthe invention to devise improvements in springv top harness mecha, nisms wherein more or less unlimitedrange. ofadjustment is providedfor the springs, said adjustmentbeing capable of being eiectedwithout disassernblingY or otherwise disturbingany of the parts of i the mechanism except those incidental' to eiiectingadjustment itself.

Itis a further object ofthe inventiontod'evise a spring top harness mechanism which is so designed that the springs may not escape or in Yany manner endanger the loom operators in the event a. spring,A should break, andfurther, to provide mechanism of'this type which is adaptedtohave as are utilized for resilientl'y frames to an uppermost posiithe tension on all' of the` springs completely. and

quicklyf released Whenever it is desired to open theV mechanism and to aiect changes therein duringwhich, in other mechanism of the type,

there has always been a considerable amount ofr danger possible since the springs which are relatively; strongv have inY those instances been left under considerable tension.

Other objects of the invention will becomeapparentfrom the followingz more detailed'disclosure.

Spring.. top harness mechanisms employing clock type vsprings have been usedj andan example of one such mechanism which has proven relatively satisfactory is evident inlU. S. Patent 2455.263. While in thev top mechanism ofi that patent and in others, certain adjustmentshave been provided and have served quitewell in most instances. it has not` been possible4 to. release tension onany` orvall ysprings quicklyin the.` event.

the mechanism is to be worked on as for replacmechani'sms employingi clock.

ing, a spring,` or fr-en'cting' adjustments' or replacement of`any one. or more ofL the individual' parts- While each ofthe springs is separately adi instable,the factthat no great range of adjust'- mentfor allthe springs :hasbeen provided. has led to certain disadvantages which' are remedied' in the present construction.

According; to theu present invention; eachV of the springs',` one' oi" which is required'. for each harness frame employed,v is a part of" unitwhich includes'a hubxed to a centralshaft carriedin bearings a'casingmember; thespringitseland a; drum which relatively free on` a" bearing either on thesliaft" itself'o'ron theV hub which isifixed" to" the shaft.' The' spring. is atl, tached at one end'to the' hub and at' the other. end to the drum. The drum in turn has a harness cord or strap attached'thereto which Wraps there'- about as the springgpulls'the' drumina direction' to tighten or to retract the. said'cord'or strap. These cords'or'strapsof course; run. over suitable pulleys'or sheaves to' their respective harness frames to` which theyare connected any'con'- venient manner.

The complete assembly ofv springL units' carried-on the central 'shaftasL describedis adjusted andthe springs therein tensionedby rotatingthe shaft and thusthe' hubs .to which theiinner end ofjthe springs are fixed in a direction toA wind" the springs, by meansof asuitable toolwhich may be applied to, apart ofthe mechanism located'outside the casingland'xed. tothe end ofith'e shaft as it'extendsfrom thatcasing. Thisla'tter mentioned partcomprisesa' disk-lik'dhubbed member which is attened or,` otherwise provided for the reception of a wrenchor otherleveror tool bywhichthe shaft .may berotatedto. tighten the springs. and alsomprovided` with a pawl-like member or members engageable 'withinindenta` tionsforf` against -projectionsformed :asf-a part of I, or; otherwise provided as-an `appartenancel to the, casingiand-iin':alignment? with thefsaidfpawl-like members; Interengagementzbetween theseaparts locks; `the shaft4 and thus;tnespringunitsiin'any particular adjusted/'2' position, Buti byapplying-fa suitable-tool to' -the'fadjustingf member.' releasing the pawlJ-like members` and* then rota-ting-l tl'e shaft" inieither oneQV direction or' the other,V the spring tension may befvaried'jpr idesired, the tension. may be' completely released as when'it isv desiredltc Work on. the unit'andthetension in the` springsmightlb'ea source ofd'angerat thattime..`

The invention will be described in greater deaV spring tail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, part of the casing being broken away, of the mechanism as applied to a loom, only parts appurtenant thereto being illustrated.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the mechanism to that seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the device.

Fig. 4 is a section taken at line 44, Fig. 2, and illustrating the details of certain parts of the device incidental to a stop for each of the spring units.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing one of the spring units and the means by which the spring units may be adjusted and locked in an adjusted position.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, the spring top mechanism is mounted on a pedestal It which is supported at the loomside of the loom and comprises among other parts, a casing generally'indicated by numeral II and which may be cast as a unit or built up from several parts, but which is formed open about more or less of its circumference to be closed by sheet metal covers I2 and i3. These are similar to the covers shown and described in U. S. Patent 2,501,157. A shaft I4 extends centrally through the casing and is relatively free to rotate in bearings, one at either casing side, except as restrained in a manner hereinafter to be described in greater detail. A plurality of spring units generally indicated by numeral I5 are carried on this shaft and the number of the spring units may vary within limits according to the number of harness frames I6 which are to be controlled or suspended from this top spring mechanism. Each of the frames l5 is suspended upon straps or cords il, I, which run over pulleys or sheaves IG pivoted at on an arch structure which may assume any convenient form, but which preferably employs structural steel members 2l which are attached at one end to the casing I I by means of suitable bolts or other connecting means 22, and at their other ends to an upright supporting structure (not shown), which may take any convenient form.

` Now referring to Fig. 5, as well as the other figures, each of the spring units comprises a hub 23 which is keyed to the shaft I4 by a key 24 which extends along the length of the shaft I4 to serve for all the hubs 23. This hub 23 is in turn flanged as at 23, said fiange being under cut for the reception of a bushing 2l rotatable on the smaller diametered part of the said hub and pressed into a corresponding extending portion of the cooperating drum 25. This drum acts as a restraining member for the clock type spring 29 and also as a means to which the extension 3l] from the dependent cords or straps II and I8 may be connected, for example, by a suitable screw or clamping means 3I. The drum 28 has a central hub portion 32 which might rotate on the hub directly, but, as herein illustrated, carries the bushing 21 so that the drum itself is relatively freely rotatable with respect to the shaft and, of course, the hub 23. The outer or hanged part 33 of the drum serves to encase the spring to an extent and that flange is discontinued as at abutment 34, Fig. 1, for the reception of the hooked end 35 of the spring and is also radially offset as at 36 so as to form a stop by means of which movement of the spring unit may be limited, for example, when disconnecting any particular harness frame, or when a cord or some other part of the mechanism fails. It prevents the spring 4 unit from moving, under the tension of its spring, to the fullest extent which might be possible otherwise.

Spring 29 is connected by the inturned or angularly bent part 31 within a notch 38 in the flanged part 26 of hub 23 and the outer coil of the spring is also retained by means of lug 39 cast or otherwise formed as a part of the drum 28. Each of these spring units is assembled and is keyed to the shaft I4 so that by rotating the shaft I4 in the appropriate direction, tension is imposed on the clock type spring 29, the adjustment of these springs being dependent upon other factors including the type of harness frames, the speed of operation of the loom, and several other factors.

It has been found that each of the spring units is substantially like the others and that adjustment of them all simultaneously serves best to tension the springs and therefore, as will presently be described, an adjustment is provided by means of which the shaft I4 may be turned throughout any desired angular extent and be held at whatever adjusted position serves most advantageously for the particular installation at hand. The adjustment is possible of being effected without removing any parts and without obtaining access to the interior of the casing. Adjustment and locking of the parts in position are effected through interengaging means part of which is a functionally integral part of the casing and another part of which is mounted on and movable with the shaft on which the spring units are aflixed and which may comprise a disklike member generally indicated by numeral 40 and which is flanged as at 4I and has a projecting hub portion 42 flattened at opposite sides for reception of a wrench or other suitable tool to be employed as a lever in turning the shaft I4 or holding it in any position incidental to the adjustment thereof. It is thus possible to effect the tensioning of the springs without involving the loom operator or fixer in any possibility of being struck by a broken spring or of getting a nger caught in the mechanism, and, in fact, it is not at all necessary to disturb any of the individual spring units during the adjustment except to tension them by rotating the shaft I4. The parts are held in an adjusted position by the cooperating action of certain pawl-like members 43 which engage teeth 44, or by any similar and equivalent means such as spring pressed plungers which might cooperate with openings or other indentations taking the place of the teeth 44. In fact, it is the pawl-like projection or projections 43 which engage within the indentations between the teeth 44 and the actual form which these parts take is not important so long as they comprise a means for maintaining relatively fine settings and for maintaining the position of the parts very positively.

The teeth 44 may be cast integrally with the casing I3, or be formed on a separate element bolted or otherwise attached thereto. The pawllike members 43 are a part of the plungers 45 which are retained within suitable openings in the part 40 and which are spring pressed by means of a spring 46 so that the pawl is normally maintained in engagement with the teeth 44. A button or other projecting means 41 serves to withdraw the pawls from the teeth whenever it is desired to change the position of the parts. While one pawl 43 may suffice, it is preferred that two such pawls be employed and that they be spaced so that one is always at the half-tooth maman "ostion when; the` other-fis. engaged` with.. a. para isintendedfto embrace all variations andm'od D tlcular tooth. This. makes. possible an angular ications thereof falling within thet spirit ofthe adjustment equivalentlto one-halfthe. angle. beinvention and. the. scope of the claims. tween teeth andA therefore makes it.y unnecessary We claim: to have extremely smallteeth. 1. A spring top harness mechanism florlooms The buttons or Washers 4.1; are adapted. to. be comprising a supporting caslng, a shaftv borne leased slowly. If a major-.adjustment to` be shaft, a-,drumto which-aharnessrcordis attached W en adJustmg the parts so as to tighten the 2 A spring top harness mechanism for looms springs. itA is. only necessary to. applyv the Wrench comprising a supporting casing. a shaft borne or other toolAan'd-toturn the. shaft inthe appro-f within saidV casing andV af plurality of'clock'spring` priate-direction. 'llhepawlslslip past thete'eth units carried'on saidshaft and withinsai'dVV cass and make engagement; automatically. ing, each said unit including a hub fixed to the As. shownlin Figs. l-. a` stop in the form of a shaft, a drum,to Whicha' harness cord isfattached rod 49 extends across, #but angularly ofthe cas- 25 said drum being rotatable relative to said shaft ing. I0 at the` lower partlthereof-- andin a posiand a clock spring having one end fixed tosaik Within receiving` apertures Iin the lugs 5l and 52 30 relationship comprising a member kedto In actual practice these are separated about one- 40 3; A spring top harness mechanism .for looms harness, the angularty of the .stop 49 is `ofsuch 5 shaft, a drum .to which aharness cord is attached shaft I4 is drilled along its length to apoint 50 fixed to the shaft externally of the casing for it is obvious that they could be pivoted on the and a ClQCk type Spring encased Within said drum with them, and may be Withdrawn when required. 7g borne in Said Casing, means fOI retaining Said to be limited to the precise details described, but ness cord is attached said drum being rotatably carried on said hub, a notch in said hub and an anchoring abutment forming a part of said drum, and a clock type spring confined within said drum and having one of its ends held in said notch and the other connected to said anchoring abutment.

6. In a spring top harness mechanism for looms a casing, a shaft extending through and borne in said casing, means for retaining said shaft in an angularly adjusted position and a plurality of spring units carried by said shaft within the casing, each said unit comprising a hub keyed to the shaft, a drum to which a harness cord is attached said drum being rotatab ly carried on said hub, a notch in said hub and an anchoring abutment forming a part of said drum, and a clock type spring confined within said drum and having one of its ends held in said notch and the other connected to said anchoring abutment and means for stopping movement of said spring units which comprises a projection on each drum and a cooperating member extending laterally of said casing and in the pathway of said projections.

7. Mechanism as dened in claim 6 wherein said cooperating member comprises a bar extending across said casing and inclined to the axis of said shaft by an amount substantially sufficient for compensating for the normal difference in movement of said units in accordance with the difference in amplitude of movement of their respective harness frames.

8. For use in a spring top harness mechanism for looms a spring unit comprising a hub adapted to be xed to a retaining shaft, said hub having an external bearing portion and a spring attaching portion, a drum having a hub borne upon the bearing portion of said first mentioned hub and an abutment for attachment of a spring, and a clock type spring having one end secured to said spring attaching portion of the first mentioned hub and 'its other end secured to said abutment.

9. For use in a spring top harness mechanism for looms a spring unit comprising a hub adapted to be fixed to a retaining shaft, said hub having an external bearing portion and a notched iiange,

a spring retaining drum having a central hub borne upon the bearing portion of said first mentioned hub, an external spring restraining flanger an abutment formed by the interruption of the external spring restraining ange of said drum and a radially offset projection of said flange, and a clock type spring one end of which is received in said notched flange of the rst mentioned hub and the other end of which is hooked about saidabutment.

10. A spring top harness mechanism for looms comprising a casing, a centrally disposed shaft extending through said casing, a plurality of spring units operatively affixed to said shaft and being provided for attachment of harness cords extending therefrom to their respective harness frames, and means for adjustably retaining said shaft in an angularly adjusted position comprising a disk-like member fixed to said shaft externally of the casing, at least one spring urged paWl member carried by said disk-like member and having provision for manual retraction and complementary, spaced pawl engaging indentations formed in said casing and aligned for interaction with said pawl member.

11. Mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said disk-like member is also provided with a hub having flattened sides for reception of a holding tool.

12. Mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said pawl-like member is spring pressed axially of the shaft and said indentations are formed as spaces between teeth circumferentially disposed about the axis of said shaft.

WALTER J. BUDZYNA.

AMERICO GOUVEIA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

